Alive: A gap in your life?

It isnt only for students. An ever-growing number of thirtysomethings are giving up career and even home for travel, fun and adventure, writes Claire Sawers

By the time Clare and Graham Laybourn reached their early thirties they had settled into a comfortable routine. The professional couple owned a spacious flat in Edinburgh, enjoyed well-paid jobs and an affluent lifestyle.

Work didn’t leave much time for their shared passion of hillwalking, but whenever possible they squeezed in a short break.

Sometimes, though, it wasn’t enough. Late at night the couple would idly debate giving it all up to go trekking in Nepal or New Zealand. It was something they had always dreamt of, but careers, bills and a mortgage got in the way.

However, the idea wouldn’t go away. Waiting until retirement was not an option for such a physically demanding trip. And if they put it off much longer their financial commitments would only multiply.

So two years ago Clare and Graham took the plunge. They resigned from their jobs — Clare, 32, was a lawyer